Pocket TV Transforms Your HDTV Into a Smart TV

There are various ways to convert your 'dumb' television into a Smart TV. For starters, you can purchase a Smart TV and ditch the old one, or two, grab a media player packed with the necessary applications. But what if you could simply insert a thumbdrive-esque device to make the magic happen? Available for pre-orders on popular crowd-funding site Kickstarter, Pocket TV is essentially a compact USB drive running Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) with complete access to Google's Play store. Developed by start-up firm Infinitec, Pocket TV's hardware specifications include a Cortex A9 1GHz processor, 512MB RAM, 4GB drive, microSD slot, USB 2.0 support, and an HDMI outlet that plugs in directly to your tellie.

According to PocketLint's report, the nifty device is also able to support 1080p streams and Skype video calls. There are two remote options - a standard IR wand, and a slightly more expensive Air Remote, one that packs a gyroscopic sensor which enables users to navigate the set's user-interface via motion control. The Air Remote carries a QWERTY keyboard on its reverse side as well. Having attained its target investment, Infinitec is now inviting customers to pre-order the device at a reduced rate, starting from US$99 instead of its regular US$160 starting price. Do note that this is part of the company's early bird special promotion, and it's only valid if you place your order before the 9th of July. For more info on the Pocket TV, kindly check out Kickstarter's page here.